BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo has inaugurated its standing and ad-hoc committees to help in piloting the affairs of Oha Izhi Nnodo Nation Worldwide.
The inauguration conducted by the President General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, HRH Eze S.N Oketa, on Saturday at Anmegu, the ancestral home of Izhi clan, was honoured by the illustrious sons and daughters of Izhi.
Oketa after the inauguration, charged the members of the committees to be committed in promoting peace and unity in Izhi land, believing that the new development would help in boosting the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo for the benefit of the people.
He said the committees were genuinely constituted, even without any private engagement of the members and expressed optimism that the interest of Oha Izhi Nnodo and her leadership will be maximally strengthened and protected following their inauguration.
He however, urged all Izhi children to shun anything capable of promoting kindred dichotomy, which in his words, was introduced in Izhi land by selfish politicians, to destabilize the peace and unity among Izhi people.
Oketa used the opportunity to warn against involvement of Arushi Okija in any case connnected with Izhi child, noting that many people from the clan have lamented the deadly consequences after taking their matters to the Okija shrine.
The Oha Izhi Nnodo President declared a total ban to the invitation of Arushi Okija to intervene in any case connnected with Izhi person in Izhi land, since in his words, the clan has the traditional and cultural custodians, handling such matters in their various communities and particular Ishiuke Izhi at Anmegu.
His words: "There's no need of involving Arushi Okija in a case connnected with Izhi child by anybody or group, because Izhi people have procedures of settling dispute. If anyone feels aggrieved, he must first of all try to settle the case within his or her immediate family.
"If your family couldn't get the matter settled, you can report the case to your village head. If the village head couldn't settle the case you can report it to your traditional ruler and if the traditional ruler couldn't get the matter settled, you can proceed to Oha Izhi Nnodo, who has the power to involve the prime minister of Izhi land, the Ishiuke Izhi to resolve the matter once and for all, instead of involving Arushi Okija, which has deadly consequences as many of our brothers and sisters have been complaining.
"We therefore, ban invitation of Arushi Okija in the 26 communities belonging to Izhi clan in Ebonyi state and no Izhi child should take his/her case to that shrine."
Lending his voice, the Secretary General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Chief Dr John O. Nkwuda said, both the standing and ad-hoc committees were constituted to facilitate the aims and objectives of Oha Izhi Nnodo.
He enjoined all the members of the Committees to be dedicated to their duties while championing the missions and visions of the Oha Izhi Nnodo.
He noted that the members of the standing committees were grouped into the finance, lease of land, welfare, peace and conflict resolution, disciplinary, security, royalty, education while works, mobilization and medical were among the ad-hoc committees.
In their acceptance speeches, the Chairmen of the committees including Chief Boniface Ezaegu - the Vice President of Oha Izhi Nnodo and Chairman, Lease of Land Committee, Chief Lazarus Eze - Chairman Peace and Reconciliation committee, among others appreciated the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo for the opportunity given to them to serve and promised to be dedicated and committed to their duties.
Earlier, the Publicity Secretary of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Apostle Benjamin Obeji, gave report of the sensitization visit to communities, noting that the body has covered 11 out of the 26 communities in Izhi land.
Corroborating with Apostle Benjamin Obeji, the Oha Izhi Nnodo Director of Protocol, Chief Sunny B. Ekpaegu noted that the body during the sensitization of the communities, preached for peace and sustainability of original Izhi culture which promotes love, unity, and progress in the land. He encouraged Izhi people to massively participate in the ongoing continuous voter registration and canvassed against electoral violence, thuggery, intake of hard drugs, cultism, and other social vices.
Present at the occasion included the former Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Sylvanus Nguji Ngele, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Ebonyi State, Chief Dr Peter Mbam, the National President of Izhi Gospel Ministers Association of Nigeria, IGMAN, Rev. Joseph Nwibo, Rev Simon Abah of the Assemblies of God, Dr Clement Nwakpu, Chief Romanus Nwasum, Chief Mike Udenwe and numerous others. They commended the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo and urged all hands to be on deck in championing the interest and welfare of the clan.
